Sexual violence

Addressing Sexual Violence and HIV

Sexual violence is a fundamental violation of human rights and has a direct impact on the health and wellbeing of people, especially women. Research shows that violence is a major cause of HIV transmission, but also a consequence of HIV infection. The MMS Bulletin explores how sexual and gender based violence increases vulnerability to HIV, AIDS and other STIs. It highlights current interventions to address the consequences of sexual violence on the health of women, children and men. Based on experiences and best practice, the MMS Bulletin explores programming and key actions addressing the consequences of sexual violence on HIV in protection of the survivors of sexual violence.

Global status report on violence prevention 2014

WHO
"The Global status report on violence prevention 2014, which reflects data from 133 countries, is the first report of its kind to assess national efforts to address interpersonal violence, namely child maltreatment, youth violence, intimate partner and sexual violence, and elder abuse. Jointly published by WHO, the United Nations Development Programme, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the report reviews the current status of violence prevention efforts in countries, and calls for a scaling up of violence prevention programmes; stronger legislation and enforcement of laws relevant for violence prevention; and enhanced services for victims of violence."

(How) Can We Reduce Violence Against Women by 50% over the Next 30 Years?

Understanding what drives and enables change

PLOS Medicine
Whilst ostensibly ambitious, several high-income countries, including the United States, have reduced rates of some forms of violence by 50% or more over a very short period of time, and such reductions are supported by historical trends of reduced homicide over several centuries in several European countries [6]–[8]. There is no real evidence, however, that violence against women is reducing in low- and middle-income countries," writes Rachel Jewkes for PLOS Medicine. (Photo: Prevention in Moçambique, terre des hommes schweiz, zVg)